Burial vault



' July 15, 1941.

v. 1.. HARRIS BURIAL VAULT Filed May 16, 1938 FIG-4 FIG-3 b0 9 B 2 1 3 6 w Rw Q 2 w 332 22 2 2 m m M. 6 2

FIG. 7

FIG." 6

FIG.- 5.

FIG-9 INVENTOR VERNE L. HARRIS BY 7% 1 ATTORNEYS h Patented July 15, 1941 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURIAL VAUL Verne L. Harris, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application May 16, 1938,.SeriaINo. 208,101'

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements ,in burial vaults and, more particularly, to a vault which is hermetically sealed not only when it is first constructed and assembled but for an indefinite number of years thereafter.

.An object of the present invention is to provide a burial vault comprising a weather-tight imperforate corel whichin itself is sufficiently light in weight to be easily damaged but so covered by a protective layer as to guard it from destruction and enable it to carry out its function for an indefinite numberof years.

Another object of my invention is to provide a weather-tight burial vault comprising a core and protective covering wherein the core assists in sealing the upper part of the vault to a. base in a water-tight manner.

Another feature of my invention is the combination of a weatherproof core with a protective coating wherein the weather-proof core acts with a portion of the base so as to lock the top of the vault to the base permanently.

Another feature of my invention is the combination of an absolutely weather-tight core covered with a protective coating wherein the core is bound to the coating in a novel manner wherein each reinforces the other.

My invention also includes the combination of a core with a protective coating wherein the core coacts with the coating to reinforce the same and wherein the reinforcing is so arranged as to aid in the application of the protective coating in a uniform manner.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear from the accompanying drawing and description and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the claims. r

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improved burial vault in position on a base, the same being cut through transversely to more clearly show the construction thereof; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of cores suitable for embodiment in my improved vault showing a manner of deforming the surfaces thereof to reinforce the same and to bond the core to the protective covering; Figs. 4 to 7 are enlarged fragmental sectional views showing a portion of the top and base, illustrating different forms of reinforcing ties between the core and protective covering and illustrating various methods of sealing and locking the top of the vault to the base thereof; Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmental perspective views of corners of metallic cores illustrating details of the construction thereof; while Fig. 10 is a fragmentalbottom view of a. corner of the core illustrated in Fig. 7.

The general nature of my improved burial vault is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein a core I0 is constructed of, light, inexpensive material either entirely of one piece or of parts so put together that the entire core is imperforate and impenetrable to air, water or ordinary acids encountered in the soil. This core in and of itself would be 'insui'ficient to support the loads encountered or to withstand rough usage and therefore it is given a protective coating ll on the outside and if desireda protective coating I.2,on,the inside. The outside coating H is more important than the inside coating l2 for obvious reasons. The base I3 is of a usual type and provided with a. groove [3a adapted to receive the bottom edges of the burial vault so that the same may be sealed therein either by a water seal or the same may be filled with asphalt or the like asis well known in the trade. It will be noted that the core l0 extends clear to the bottom of the trough l3a. so that the impervious core itself is sealed in the trough l3a not relying upon the protective coverings II or [2 for sealing. The fact that the core I0 is absolutely imperforate maintains a sufficient pressure inside the vault to maintain the same absolutely dry over a long period of time.

The core l0 may be made of any metal adapted to withstand destruction over a long period of time, such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel and the like, but I do not limit myself to these materials as it might also be made of a phenolic condensate or other material and still retain certain of the advantages hereinafter pointed out. In a like manner the protective covering ll might be of cement or concrete but obviously other materials such as a bituminous coating and the like would produce the same result. Hereinafter for the sake of simplicity of description I may refer to the core II] as of metal or copper and the coatings H and I2 as being of concrete but with the understanding that other substitute materials may be used.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a metallic core l4 struck up preferably out of a single sheet of copper or the like and provided in the forming dies with corrugations over the entire surface thereof so that these corrugations not only reinforce the metal core but also serve to bond the core to'the protective covering of concrete.-

In Fig. 3 I have shown another type of corrugation formed in diamond pattern over the entire surfac of the core again for the purpose of reinforcing the core and for bonding it to the protective coating.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the core Ill as having secured thereto as by spot welding a plurality of short wire rods or nubbins of metal or the like l5 to which are secured sheets of wire mesh it and II, one inside and one outside of the core Ii] and coextensive therewith and substantially parallel thereto over the entire vault. This forms a very satisfactory tie for bonding the concrete coatings H and ii? to the core in. At the same time I have shown the core H! as extending at Illa into a trough 130. so that the core itself forms a deep seal about the entire vault, the chief weight of which is sustained on the shoulders [31). It will be understood that the trough I34; might be filled with a sealing material such as asphalt or the like if desired. The portion [a. is a continuous skirt about the bottom edge of core It.

In Figs. to '7 I have shown a manner of utilizing an extension of the core it below the lower free edge of the vault in such a manner as to aid in scaling the vault to the base with the additional function of locking the vault to the base. In each of these forms a metallic'locking member it is set in the base i3 in a permanent manher so as to cause a springing of the depending edge of the core H) as the vault is set upon the base, the metal of the core being sufliciently resilient that it returns to the position shown in the various figures when the parts reach their final position so that the vault is locked to the base permanently. In the form shown in Fig. 5 the free edge of the metal core is rolled up as indicated at H], this construction being followed around the entire bottom edge of the core. In the form shown in Fig. 6 the bottom edge at 20 is bent outwardly and then upwardly providing a continuous edge portion V-shape in section. In Fig. '7 the portion 2i is bent substantially at right angles inwardly instead of outwardly so that the same coacts with the metallic piece I8 in the base as a look when in final position. In all of these forms the weight of the vault may be held on the shoulder I32) and on the piece 13 as indicated.

The parts shown at IS in Figs. 5 to 7 may represent pieces spaced along the groove l3a at sufficient points to provide the lock required. I prefer, however, to make these continuous around the entire base and of copper or like metal so that I form a continuous seal between the protective coating ll and-the member 18 around the entire base in Figs. 5 and 6, or between the protective coating 12 and the member [8 in Fig. '7. There is also a close locking contact substantiallycontinuous about the entire bottom edge of the casket-receiving chamber between the parts l8 and I9, 20 or 2|.

In Fig. 6 I have shown bent wire bonding and reinforcing pieces 22 spot welded over the entire surface of the core I!) and bonded in the protective coatings II and 12 so as to tie the'concrete to the core. In Fig. 7 I have shown a different type of reinforcing member 23 spot welded to the core I El over its entire surface and embedded in the concrete. These members consist of a wire stem 23a having a button head 23b.

In Fig.5 I show a manner of combining reinforcing and tie members uniting the concrete and metallic core which may be also used to space the core in a mold or form while pouring the protective coatings II and I2. This comprises metallic pins 24 spot welded over the inner and outer surface of the core l0 and of such a length the locking function.

the members [9 are so constructed in connecas to space the core properly in the mold which forms the outer surfaces of the coatings H and I2 when they are poured in place. Thus the members 24 serve the dual purpose of tying the concrete to the metal core and of properly spacing the metal core in the form which molds the concrete.

In Fig. 8 I have shown an alternate method of forming the core of Fig. 5. In this form the rolled bottom edge I9 extends along the sides only of the core while the ends may be cut off straight as at 25. The side portions in this form provide To this end, portions of tion with the portion 25 that the portions 19 may bend inwardly and clear the portions 25 at the time the locking functon takes place.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a corner of a core wherein the bottom edge is constructed according to Fig. 6. Here the portions 20 are cut away at the corners so that they may bend inwardly to achieve their locking function.

V In Fig. 10 I have shown a bottom View of the type of construction shown in Fig. 7 wherein the parts 2i are mitered at the cornerso that each portion at the side and end is free to spring outwardly when the locking takes place.

It will be noted in all these forms that where the corner is split so asto provide for the resilient action of the bottom edges of the core to perform their locking function, nevertheless the point indicated in the various views at 26 is within the trough l3a so that this point may be well sealed leaving the entire vault thereabove hermetically sealed with no openings of any sort through the core.

A vault having the locking construction of "'igs. 5, 6 and 7 has the additional advantage that the cover may be placed upon the base be fore the vault is lowered in the ground and the entire device may thereafter be handled as a unit.

In Fig. 7', I show a modification of the base by means of which I close the bottom of the casketreceiving chamber with an imperforate plate. Here 21 represents an imperforate plate of copper or the like substantially coextensive with the open bottom of the vault and embedded in the base and tied into the non-metallic protective covering of the base by the tie members 28 which may be spot welded to plate 21 over its entire surface. The free edges of plate-21 form the locking parts l8. In this form when the vault is assembled the entire casket-receiving chamber is surrounded by imperforate, corrosion-resisting metal Ill and 21. The recess at 29 may be filled with a weatherproof sealing material in a mann r to cl se all openings between 18 and 2| and preferably up to the point 26. Thevault is then hermetically sealed. The sealing material in recess29 or in any of the recesses in Fig. 1, 4, 5 or 6 may be asphalt, bituminous material or other suitable compound. In the form of Figs. 5 to 7 -I may use a metal cementsuch as"Hy-tempite which is a quicksetting plastic material adapted to bond with the metal itself and becoming so hard as to be practically theequivalent of welding l8 to IE, 20 or 2t and to permanently close up open corners such as shown in Figs. 8 to 10.

What I claim is:

1. In a burial vault, a casket-receiving chamber of imperforate sheet metal having good corrosion resistant properties, said chamber being closed at the top and sides and open at the bottom, a base adapted to close said bottom, a nonmetallic protective covering for said metal chamber, said protective covering being adapted for molding in a form, and metal projections rigidly secured to said imperforate sheet metal and embedded in said covering, said projections being coextensive with the thickness of said protective covering, whereby said projections will properly position said sheet metal in a form for molding said protective covering and said projections and said sheet metal reinforce the protective cover ing molded over them;

2. In a burial vault, a casket-receiving chamber comprising an imperforate sheet metal core and a non-metallic protective covering therefor, said chamber being closed at the top and sides and open at the bottom, a base adapted to close said bottom, said protective covering resting on said base, said core having resilient metalportions extending below said covering and having lateral projections at their free ends, there being a recess in said base adapted to receive said extending portions, a locking part rigid with said base and adapted to engage and cam said projections laterally as said resilient metal portions enter said recess, and said locking part being so positioned as to overlie said projections after said resilient metal portions have fully entered said recess.

3. A burial vault as in claim 2, wherein said resilient metal portions form a continuous skirt about the bottom edge of said chamber except for breaks at the corners to accommodate said resilient metal action, and said recess in said base having side walls higher than said broken corner portions of said skirt whereby to seal said broken corner portions in said recess.

4. In a burial vault, a casket-receiving chamber comprising an imperforate sheet metal core and a non-metallic protective covering therefor, said chamber being closed at the top and sides and open at the bottom, a base adapted -toclose said bottom, said protective covering resting on said base, said core having resilient metal portions extending below said covering and having lateral projections at their free ends, said resilient metal portion forming a continuous skirt about the bottom edge of said chamber except for breaks at the corners to accommodate said resilient metal action, there being a recess in said base adapted to receive said extending portion, said base comprising an imperforate metal plate substantially coextensive with the open bottom 01 said chamber, the free edges of said plate extending into said recess in position toengage and cam said projections laterally as said resilient metal portions enter said recess, and said free edges of said plate being so positioned as to overlie said projections after said resilient metal portions have fully entered said recess, whereby said chamber is substantially completely surrounded by imperforate metal.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said recess is filled with sealing material suflcient to close all openings between the edges of said sheet metal core and the edges of said plate.

6. In a burial vault, a casket-receiving chamber comprising an imperforate sheet metal core and a non-metallic protective covering therefor, said chamber being closed at the top and sides and open at the bottom, a base adapted to close said bottom, said core having portions extending below said covering, a metal plate carried by said base and coextensive with the open bottom of said chamber and having portions extending to points adjacent said core portions when said vault is assembled, and there being coacting looking parts on said core portions and on said plate portions adapted to interlock by positioning of said chamber on said base, whereby to prevent separation of the parts. I

7. A burial vault comprising a base having a continuous groove in its upper face, an imperforate sheet metal cover portion open only at the bottom, only the lower edge of said metal cover portion seating in said groove, an imperforate metal plate covering the area of said base bounded by said groove and extending into said groove, and water-impervious sealing material in said groove between said plate and cover portion edge at all points.

8. A burial vault comprising a base having a continuous groove in its upper face, an imperforate sheet metal cover portion open only at the bottom, the lower edge of said cover portion seating in said groove, an imperforate metal plate covering the area of said base bounded by said groove and extending into said groove, there being coacting locking parts on said cover portion and on said plate adapted to interlock by positioning of said chamber on said base, and waterimpervious sealing material in said groove between said plate and cover portion edge at all points.

VERNE L. HARRIS. 

